Roadtrip in the deep south in August?
Jan 8th, 2015, 03:05 PM
#101
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I've lived in the Deep South my whole life (Georgia), and I definitely don't think a road trip that time of year is bonkers. That's when most people here are able to take vacations, and we've never let the August heat keep us from going places in the South.
We Southerners are miserable in the heat, too, we just plan our day and clothing around it and deal with it. In Georgia (and every place you mentioned), you can expect the temps to be over 100 degrees during the day during August. I still get up and go for a morning jog in August, I just get up earlier and jog in the cooler morning air. I wouldn't worry even the tiniest bit about it being hurricane season. Just watch the weather and change plans if necessary.
My advice:
Wake up early. Get out and do the things you want to do in the early morning. Wear cotton, loose fitting clothing, open shoes like flip flops or sandals (you would never, ever see us in socks in the summer time), and a big hat or visor to keep the heat off.
During the hottest hours, go for a relaxing meal indoors in a place with a good air conditioner or to a show/aquarium/tour that you know will be nice and cool. Don't plan on walking much during the hot afternoons. If you do decide to do an outdoor walk, buy one of those misting bottle fans for a few dollars and use it when the heat gets to be too much. Each day, we like to go back to the room before dinner and take a shower to refresh. We get ready for a nice evening out and dress up more, then go for an evening dinner and enjoy the city at night when it is much cooler. Also, bring pants or a long skirt if you plan on doing any outdoor dining in the South to keep away the mosquitoes and sand gnats.
We Southerners are miserable in the heat, too, we just plan our day and clothing around it and deal with it. In Georgia (and every place you mentioned), you can expect the temps to be over 100 degrees during the day during August. I still get up and go for a morning jog in August, I just get up earlier and jog in the cooler morning air. I wouldn't worry even the tiniest bit about it being hurricane season. Just watch the weather and change plans if necessary.
My advice:
Wake up early. Get out and do the things you want to do in the early morning. Wear cotton, loose fitting clothing, open shoes like flip flops or sandals (you would never, ever see us in socks in the summer time), and a big hat or visor to keep the heat off.
During the hottest hours, go for a relaxing meal indoors in a place with a good air conditioner or to a show/aquarium/tour that you know will be nice and cool. Don't plan on walking much during the hot afternoons. If you do decide to do an outdoor walk, buy one of those misting bottle fans for a few dollars and use it when the heat gets to be too much. Each day, we like to go back to the room before dinner and take a shower to refresh. We get ready for a nice evening out and dress up more, then go for an evening dinner and enjoy the city at night when it is much cooler. Also, bring pants or a long skirt if you plan on doing any outdoor dining in the South to keep away the mosquitoes and sand gnats.
Jan 8th, 2015, 04:26 PM
#102
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> I am now worried that we will need a lot longer than 3 weeks.<
You will. But it's a good excuse to return.
Every trip I've taken to the South, I've had the ridiculous notion that I could cross a destination off my list with my "been there, seen that" pen, but my list just keeps growing.
You will. But it's a good excuse to return.
Every trip I've taken to the South, I've had the ridiculous notion that I could cross a destination off my list with my "been there, seen that" pen, but my list just keeps growing.
Jan 9th, 2015, 02:53 AM
#106
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Well, Cranny, when you choose only part of my quote, and ALSO ignore the full stop (that's a period), it does change the meaning. Reading 101.
"Yes, for pete sake, there are battlefields all over the South and Virginia is a wonderful state. I mentioned it 'way up the thread, Civil War sites are many in the itinerary already suggested which was my point about just adding on."
And as mentioned further up
There is plenty of the Civil War to go around!! Another trip.
"Yes, for pete sake, there are battlefields all over the South and Virginia is a wonderful state. I mentioned it 'way up the thread, Civil War sites are many in the itinerary already suggested which was my point about just adding on."
And as mentioned further up
There is plenty of the Civil War to go around!! Another trip.
Jan 9th, 2015, 04:08 AM
#107
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I think the heat is being oversold a bit, especially given the cooler summers we've had in the last few years. 100+ days are certainly not the norm in the South in August. They do happen, and the local news makes a big deal over them, but you're much more likely to find low to mid 90s. For example, last year in August in Augusta, GA (a very hot place), there were 2 days that topped out at 100, but 7 below 90. Humidity is almost always present though.
I agree there's no reason you can't do a comfortable road trip in the South during August.
I agree there's no reason you can't do a comfortable road trip in the South during August.
Jan 9th, 2015, 05:19 AM
#108
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Well, Gretchy, you certainly did NOT mention Virginia way up the thread, which is what your statement implies ("it" is a singular pronoun and takes a singular antecedent. "Virginia" is singular; "battlefields" is plural, so "I mentioned it" can't be referring to "battlefields" or to "battlefields ... and Virginia", both of which are plural). Don't be a grammar scold if you don't understand what you are scolding about.
For that matter, you do not mention battlefields in any of your posts either.
The closest you come is saying "There is plenty of Civil War to go around". That's sort of like saying "There is plenty of architecture to go around in New York City"—true, but hardly helpful, especially if someone wants to delve into it as a field of study (as does mamabear's son with the Civil War).
Try reading all of your posts. Let me know if you see one that mentions either Virginia or battlefields.
For that matter, you do not mention battlefields in any of your posts either.
The closest you come is saying "There is plenty of Civil War to go around". That's sort of like saying "There is plenty of architecture to go around in New York City"—true, but hardly helpful, especially if someone wants to delve into it as a field of study (as does mamabear's son with the Civil War).
Try reading all of your posts. Let me know if you see one that mentions either Virginia or battlefields.
Jan 9th, 2015, 06:46 AM
#110
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mamabear,
Another place you might consider visiting, if it is more or less on the way between major stops, is Eatonton, Georgia.
Eatonton was home to both Joseph Sidney Turner, the inspiration for "Little Boy" in Joel Chandler Harris's 19th-century "Uncle Remus" stories (considered very politically incorrect by some today), and Alice Walker, the contemporary African-American author (The Color Purple.
Quite a contrast in stories and how they are told!
http://eatonton.com/visit/attractions/museums.php
http://eatonton.com/visit/attraction...ical_sites.php
Noe that you can visit Harris's home, The Wren's Nest, in Atlanta. http://www.wrensnest.org/
For that matter, you could also visit the Margaret Mitchell House, where Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind. It's part of the Atlanta History Center, which starrs mentioned previously. http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/mmh
Also in Atlanta is the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum (http://www.atlantacyclorama.org/attractions.php).
In nearby Kennesaw is the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (http://www.atlanta.net/things-to-do/history/civil-war/).
And you might want to visit Stone Mountain, which features the largest bas relief in the world, a giant carving of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, along with President Jefferson Davis, astride their favorite horses. The "mountain" is also quite interesting geologically. http://www.stonemountainpark.com (don't let the ski-resort look to the site throw you–that's just for the brief winter season)
Another place you might consider visiting, if it is more or less on the way between major stops, is Eatonton, Georgia.
Eatonton was home to both Joseph Sidney Turner, the inspiration for "Little Boy" in Joel Chandler Harris's 19th-century "Uncle Remus" stories (considered very politically incorrect by some today), and Alice Walker, the contemporary African-American author (The Color Purple.
Quite a contrast in stories and how they are told!
http://eatonton.com/visit/attractions/museums.php
http://eatonton.com/visit/attraction...ical_sites.php
Noe that you can visit Harris's home, The Wren's Nest, in Atlanta. http://www.wrensnest.org/
For that matter, you could also visit the Margaret Mitchell House, where Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind. It's part of the Atlanta History Center, which starrs mentioned previously. http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/mmh
Also in Atlanta is the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum (http://www.atlantacyclorama.org/attractions.php).
In nearby Kennesaw is the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (http://www.atlanta.net/things-to-do/history/civil-war/).
And you might want to visit Stone Mountain, which features the largest bas relief in the world, a giant carving of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, along with President Jefferson Davis, astride their favorite horses. The "mountain" is also quite interesting geologically. http://www.stonemountainpark.com (don't let the ski-resort look to the site throw you–that's just for the brief winter season)
Jan 9th, 2015, 06:58 AM
#111
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you're much more likely to find low to mid 90s
Even so, the humidity that "might be present" is a huge factor that you ignore at your peril (whether you are a visitor or a local).
90F with 40% humidity feels like 91F.
90F with 60% humidity feels like 100F.
90F with 90% humidity feels like 122F!
Even so, the humidity that "might be present" is a huge factor that you ignore at your peril (whether you are a visitor or a local).
90F with 40% humidity feels like 91F.
90F with 60% humidity feels like 100F.
90F with 90% humidity feels like 122F!
Jan 9th, 2015, 07:26 AM
#112
If you go to Eatonton, stop back on the way to Madison. Well, Madison is worth a stop anyway, because it's one of the prettiest 10 towns in the US and full of antebellum homes. Called the "town too pretty to burn", legend has it that Sherman's roommate at West Point was from Madison and Sherman spared the city. Anyhoo, the Br'er Rabbit sculptures that used to be in the courtyard of Lenox Square (before it became a mall) are outside the library at Madison.
Also stop for a real southern meal at the Blue Willow in Social Circle - http://www.bluewillowinn.com/
You may also want to stop at Covington too. It has lovely antebellum homes, including the house that inspired Twelve Oaks in Gone with the Wind. It's now a B&B so you may even want to stay there -
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ga-co...FY_m7Aod7hYASg
When you're in Covington, it may look familiar to you. It has served as a set for many movies and TV shows, including the pilot and first episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard. In the Heat of the Night (tv show) was filmed there for almost a decade. It's currently the set for the Vampire Diaries. For a couple of years, the Mystic Grill was just an empty building they used in the show but a new restaurant has opened there with a rooftop deck (amazing for these parts)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...n_Georgia.html
Your son will probably want to see the new movie, Selma. Other than the bridge scenes, Covington serves as the set for Selma.
A fellow from north of Milan flew over to stay in Covington for a week because he was such a huge fan of the Dukes of Hazzard. It was quite an adventure for everyone involved, including the owner of the local B&B (no longer operating as a B&B). If you wanted to spend the night out on a family farm, the Williams farm may be an interesting option.
http://www.farmstayus.com/blog?filterby=Georgia
Family members moved back to the family homeplace and are farming the old place, living in the 100+ year old house with a few dozen chickens running around with goats and cows. It's right in the middle of the "old south" where folks lived simply on family farms when Sherman made his march to the sea to Savannah.
A fancier version is the Burge plantation. I'm not sure if they are still accepting guests, because their wedding business has grown so much -
http://www.burgeweddings.com/AboutUs...0/Default.aspx
But their history includes an encounter with Sherman's troops -
http://www.burgeclub.com/OurHistory/...condensed.aspx
Let me know if y'all decide to spend some time in the area (about an hour from Atlanta). I'm in the area 1/2 of the time and would love to meet up with y'all for coffee, lunch, etc. I would love for your son to see the attic of the Burge Plantation. The home has never left family ownership and they have a museum quality collection upstairs, including the uniforms and papers of their greats. It has everything from hundreds of years ago through the first Apple computer, etc. Fascinating collection. I went up during a tour of homes. The plantation also operates an organic gardening operation. If interested, I'll try to network to get access for your son to see their Civil War memorabilia. But then again, there's plenty in museums all over your planned route. Yes, Virginia and Pennsylvania have a lot of interesting things to see. I happened on the Appomattox Courthouse on the 150th anniversary of the signing that ended the war. My greats included survivors of both Antietam and Gettysburg. They walked home, one without an arm. One died in SC on the way. The marsh where the women hid the cows and the kids when Sherman came through are yards away from me right now. As your drive through Atlanta, you'll see historical markers all over the place and throughout the state -
http://georgiahistory.com/education-...civil-war-150/
The carving on Stone Mountain has an interesting history -
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/act...l-Carving.aspx
Stone Mountain is the largest exposed granite batholith in the world. There are lots of "baby Stone Mountains" around because SM is just one of many outcroppings. You can hike to the top (or take the tram). If you go, you really should plan to attend the laser show with fireworks. It's a good evening event in Atlanta and (to be honest) bizarre to see the outlines of the horses run off the mountain to "Glory, glory, hallelujah..." sung by Elvis Presley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiFsPQlyKI4
The other granite outcroppings include Panola and Arabia mountains and they offer ranger-led hikes, star-gazing and a variety of hikes. Both are within an hour of Atlanta.
http://gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain
http://arabiaalliance.org/
Also stop for a real southern meal at the Blue Willow in Social Circle - http://www.bluewillowinn.com/
You may also want to stop at Covington too. It has lovely antebellum homes, including the house that inspired Twelve Oaks in Gone with the Wind. It's now a B&B so you may even want to stay there -
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ga-co...FY_m7Aod7hYASg
When you're in Covington, it may look familiar to you. It has served as a set for many movies and TV shows, including the pilot and first episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard. In the Heat of the Night (tv show) was filmed there for almost a decade. It's currently the set for the Vampire Diaries. For a couple of years, the Mystic Grill was just an empty building they used in the show but a new restaurant has opened there with a rooftop deck (amazing for these parts)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...n_Georgia.html
Your son will probably want to see the new movie, Selma. Other than the bridge scenes, Covington serves as the set for Selma.
A fellow from north of Milan flew over to stay in Covington for a week because he was such a huge fan of the Dukes of Hazzard. It was quite an adventure for everyone involved, including the owner of the local B&B (no longer operating as a B&B). If you wanted to spend the night out on a family farm, the Williams farm may be an interesting option.
http://www.farmstayus.com/blog?filterby=Georgia
Family members moved back to the family homeplace and are farming the old place, living in the 100+ year old house with a few dozen chickens running around with goats and cows. It's right in the middle of the "old south" where folks lived simply on family farms when Sherman made his march to the sea to Savannah.
A fancier version is the Burge plantation. I'm not sure if they are still accepting guests, because their wedding business has grown so much -
http://www.burgeweddings.com/AboutUs...0/Default.aspx
But their history includes an encounter with Sherman's troops -
http://www.burgeclub.com/OurHistory/...condensed.aspx
Let me know if y'all decide to spend some time in the area (about an hour from Atlanta). I'm in the area 1/2 of the time and would love to meet up with y'all for coffee, lunch, etc. I would love for your son to see the attic of the Burge Plantation. The home has never left family ownership and they have a museum quality collection upstairs, including the uniforms and papers of their greats. It has everything from hundreds of years ago through the first Apple computer, etc. Fascinating collection. I went up during a tour of homes. The plantation also operates an organic gardening operation. If interested, I'll try to network to get access for your son to see their Civil War memorabilia. But then again, there's plenty in museums all over your planned route. Yes, Virginia and Pennsylvania have a lot of interesting things to see. I happened on the Appomattox Courthouse on the 150th anniversary of the signing that ended the war. My greats included survivors of both Antietam and Gettysburg. They walked home, one without an arm. One died in SC on the way. The marsh where the women hid the cows and the kids when Sherman came through are yards away from me right now. As your drive through Atlanta, you'll see historical markers all over the place and throughout the state -
http://georgiahistory.com/education-...civil-war-150/
The carving on Stone Mountain has an interesting history -
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/act...l-Carving.aspx
Stone Mountain is the largest exposed granite batholith in the world. There are lots of "baby Stone Mountains" around because SM is just one of many outcroppings. You can hike to the top (or take the tram). If you go, you really should plan to attend the laser show with fireworks. It's a good evening event in Atlanta and (to be honest) bizarre to see the outlines of the horses run off the mountain to "Glory, glory, hallelujah..." sung by Elvis Presley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiFsPQlyKI4
The other granite outcroppings include Panola and Arabia mountains and they offer ranger-led hikes, star-gazing and a variety of hikes. Both are within an hour of Atlanta.
http://gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain
http://arabiaalliance.org/
Jan 9th, 2015, 07:41 AM
#114
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Brian, I'm just reporting what the National Weather Service says: "The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature."
starrs, may I borrow your time machine?
starrs, may I borrow your time machine?
Jan 9th, 2015, 08:33 AM
#115
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I loved seeing all of the purple cosmos in the median on my trip through Georgia, starrs. I just found out my BIL won't be reassigned to Bavaria as we had all hoped (BOOO), but the choices he has are Tennessee and Hawaii. I'm rooting for Tennessee for very selfish reasons.
Jan 9th, 2015, 08:45 AM
#117
Here's a write up about a Ferrari Maserati event at the Burge.
http://gardenandgun.com/gallery/burg...country-drives
http://gardenandgun.com/gallery/burg...country-drives
Jan 9th, 2015, 08:47 AM
#118
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Still, the heat index is a bunch of hyperbole. I can go running in 95 degree weather at 90% humidity, sweat a lot, but be just fine. But I certainly wouldn't do that if the temperature was actually 147.
Jan 9th, 2015, 09:30 AM
#120
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Brian, the heat index is based on science, but it does have some assumptions built into it. The more the actual situation (including the individual person in question) deviates from the scenario assumed in the calculations, the more likely the "perceived temperature" is to deviate from the calculated heat index.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...ndex_work.html
Maybe you are more heat-tolerant than the average bear. I certainly would not go running when it's 95 and 90!
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...ndex_work.html
Maybe you are more heat-tolerant than the average bear. I certainly would not go running when it's 95 and 90!
